Information Regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus

MUHSD understands that there may be concerns regarding the Novel Coronavirus and would like to share some information released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

According to the CDPH, the health risk to the general public is low. State and local health officials like Merced County Department of Public Health are actively engaged in ensuring residents across the state remain safe and protected.

The CDPH goes on to say that there is no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus in in the United States. One instance of person-to-person transmission was confirmed in California-San Benito County, but it was with a close household contact. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission in the genereal public in California.

The Novel Coronavirus is still considered a serious public health concern and the CDPH is actively working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with local governments and health care providers across the state to protect your health.

An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus has been identified starting in Wuhan China. The types of illness caused by this virus are still being learned. Some patients have had mild illness while others have been more severe, and some have died. As of February 4, 2020, six confirmed cases have been identified in California and there are approximately 80 persons who have been tested.

What is 2019 novel coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals and humans. In rare cases, animal coronaviruses can be transmitted from animals to humans. This novel coronavirus is a newly discovered coronavirus that has not been previously detected in animals or humans. The source of the novel coronavirus is not yet known.

What are the symptoms of novel coronavirus?

Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

How is novel coronavirus diagnosed?

Health care providers will assess patients, and if novel coronavirus infection is possible, they will do further testing. At this time, the only laboratory testing for the novel coronavirus is being done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) laboratory. If a patient is suspected to be infected with the novel coronavirus, public health agencies will work with health care providers to ensure CDC testing can be completed.

What is the treatment for novel coronavirus?

Most people with illnesses due to common coronavirus infections recover on their own. There are no specific treatments for coronavirus infection. For patients who are more severely ill, hospitals can provide supportive care. We are continuing to learn more about this novel coronavirus and treatment may change over time.

How is it decided whether a person with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus can self-isolate at home or must be confined to a hospital or elsewhere?

Local health departments are working in partnership with the Public Health Department and CDC, and making determinations on whether a person ill with novel coronavirus requires hospitalization or if home isolation is appropriate. That decision may be based on multiple factors including severity of illness, need for testing, and appropriateness of home for isolation purposes.

What can the public do to limit the spread of novel coronavirus?

The Public Health Department recommends the public take the following steps to prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses.

Washing hands with soap and water.

Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick are all ways to reduce the risk of infection with a number of different viruses.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

What is the difference between novel coronavirus and other coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. There are some coronaviruses that commonly circulate in humans. These viruses cause mild to moderate respiratory illness, although rarely they can cause severe disease. These normal human coronaviruses can be identified with widely available laboratory tests. Those laboratory tests do not identify the 2019 novel coronavirus associated with the outbreak in China. At this time, the only laboratory that can identify the 2019 novel coronavirus is the CDC laboratory. It is closely related to two other animal coronaviruses that have caused outbreaks in people—the SARS coronavirus and the MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome) coronavirus.

Is California able to test for the novel coronavirus?

Currently, the CDC is the only laboratory that is doing testing for the novel coronavirus in the United States. The Public Health Department is prepared to start testing here in California as soon as the CDC makes the test materials available. The test will be the same one used at the CDC. In addition, research laboratories may also be working on different tests. As new tests become available, the Public Health Department will evaluate them and work to implement the tests that are the most effective.

What is the state doing to protect our health?

The California Department of Public Health is working closely with CDC to respond to the outbreak of this novel coronavirus. Screening of incoming passengers at two California airports is ongoing: Los Angeles International (LAX) and San Francisco International (SFO). This is to identify people who have symptoms that could be due to the coronavirus infection so that they can receive appropriate assessment and care. The state Public Health Department is providing information to local health departments and health care providers across California on how to safely and effectively evaluate ill people who have been to China. The state will continue to monitor the situation, work with partners to identify any possible cases, provide information and consultation to ensure that possible cases are managed safely, support laboratory testing, and implement recommendations from the CDC.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated information to the public.

Should public events be cancelled?

The Public Health Department is not recommending the cancelation of public events at this time. There is no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus in in the United States. There have been two instances of person-to-person transmission: one occurred in Chicago, and another in San Benito County, California. Both instances involved a close household contact.

Should people who have been exposed to novel coronavirus be quarantined?

The federal government is responsible for quarantine procedures for travelers returning from China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers returning to the United States from Hubei Province, China. We are in communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about their plans to quarantine passengers arriving at SFO and LAX.

What if I have symptoms?

Patient: If you have traveled to China, and you have become ill with fever, cough or shortness of breath, call your health care provider or local health department. Please be sure to tell your health care provider about your travel history. You can also take the following precautionary measures: avoid contact with sick individuals, wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, and get a flu shot. With symptoms that are similar to the flu, it is another important reason to get a flu shot. Influenza activity remains at high levels across the Northern Hemisphere: everyone 6 months of age and older should be immunized to help protect from the dangers of flu.

Health Care Provider: Patients who may have infection with this novel coronavirus should wear a surgical mask and be placed in an airborne infection isolation room. If an airborne infection isolation room is not available, the patient should be placed in a private room with the door closed. Health care providers should use standard, contact and airborne precautions and use eye protection. Please see "Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China" for more information about infection control. The Public Health Department will issue All Facility Letters to regulated healthcare facilities within California with updated information and guidance; these can be found on the AFL webpage.

STAY INFORMED

Every student and faculty member has the right to feel safe at school. If bullying or harassment of any kind taking place on campus, it can be reported anonymously by using the 411 Tip Line listed below for their school. Every report is taken seriously and will be investigated.

The Merced Union High School District Board of Trustees prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying against any protected group as identified under Education Code 200 and 220 and Government Code 11135, including actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, immigration status, gender, ethnic group identification, race or ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, nationality, religion, color, mental or physical disability, age, marital or parental status, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in any district program or activity that receives or benefits from state financial assistance (5 CCR 4610).

Inquiries on all matters, including complaints, regarding compliance, may be referred to Debra Glass, Director of Equity and Accountability.